Twyford

Mountain adventure for scouts' HQ appeal Feb 16 2005

By Paul Bishop


THE cash is mounting up for a fundraising appeal to build a new home for the 1st Twyford Scouts after five members successfully scaled three Scottish peaks.

Organiser George Bushell, his ex-Venture scout son Stephen, assistant cub leaders Dave and Michael Turner and assistant scout leader Bill Evans braved bitter temperatures and high winds to complete the challenge.

Their expedition saw them conquer Ben Nevis (1,344m), Ben Macdui (1,309m) and Cairn Gorm (1,245m) and the experienced climbers are considering taking on Mount Kilimanjaro later this year.

George, 56, from Kibblewhite Crescent, Twyford, said: "We had a few little hiccups along the way but we made it.

"It was so cold that at one point the camera lens froze while I was trying to take a picture and there was a thick layer of ice on our rucksacks.

"Ben Macdui was the toughest climb of the lot. It took ages and the wind was gusting at nearly 30mph."

George, who had the full backing of wife Wendy, 53, expects the climb to add another £2,000 to the £280,000 needed to build a new headquarters to replace the one destroyed by arsonists in November 2003.

More than £180,000 has been raised so far and George says talks are under way for the work to begin.

He said: "We are getting very close. It will be great to see construction start."